A tanker truck crashed and exploded on the northbound Interstate 59 bridge over Interstate 65 in Birmingham, AL, Thursday, burning with such intensity that portions of the bridge were destroyed, a spokeswoman for the Alabama DOT said.

The cause of the collision has not yet been determined, DOT officials said in a news release. The bridge also carries I-29 through the crossing of the two interstates.

The Birmingham News reported that the driver was unhurt.

The state has already assessed the damage and is moving quickly to replace the structure. Meanwhile, truckers are encouraged to use alternate routes. The DOT has placed message signs along the highway to direct truckers and others, but also recommended several detour rotes:

• Truckers headed north on I-59 through the area should take I-65 south to the Sixth Avenue north exit. Then take the exit back on to I-65, this time headed north, to get to I-59 north.
• Truckers headed south on I-59 through the area should take I-65 north to the 16th Street exit. Then take the exit back onto I-65, this time headed south, to get to I-59 south again.
• To get from northbound I-59 to northbound I-65, take the Arkadelphia road exit. Turn left off the exit, then right onto Finley Boulevard, to get to I-65 north.
• To get from I-65 northbound to I-59 southbound, take the 16th Street exit. Then take the exit back onto southbound I-65, which will take you to I-59 south.

The News reported that the tanker fire reached 1,700 degrees, hot enough to stretch and twist the bridge’s steel girders, which in turn caused the concrete to buckle.

“Malfunction Junction” was the site several years ago of a similar tanker crash, which also closed the highway, the newspaper said. It took 38 days to fix the damage from that fire; state officials told the newspaper this repair would likely take longer.